In summary
Ahoy January – and happy new year for 2025! Looking forward, we have several events to kickstart the year in style, starting with a virtual event exploring a new public sector procurement initiative ALL business in GM should be checking out (see below).
Through 2025 our event focus will be on AI, starting Jan 23rd. And our usual raft of networking events resume – including our flagship Network MediaCity on Jan 29👇🏻!
Featured news and events
GM public sector procurement pilot: ‘game changer’
In last month’s newsletter we told you about a new pilot your local FSB team have been working on for GM based businesses, helping open up public sector procurement to smaller businesses and make it much easier to find and win a contract. The project goes live in January – so watch out for much more on this. FSB has been working with STAR Procurement – the organisation in charge of the procurement requirements for four councils in GM – to deliver the new system that offers a simplified approach to awarding low value council contracts between £25k-50k to smaller, GM based businesses.
The new platform means businesses will be able to avoid the need to go on the Chest – a clunky Government portal where public sector contracts over a certain value are advertised. The four GM councils taking part in the pilot spend around £53million a year on these type of value contacts – previously a lucrative seam of work for business owners with ‘an in’ or contact at their town hall. While the new ‘matchmaking’ platform is not yet ready, early subscribers can register their business details. FSB is hosting a short, virtual event where you can learn more about the scheme.
Book your place on our event here>
Network MediaCity - 29 Jan
The best thing since sliced bread? We think so. Join us for our next amazing Network MediaCity experience on January 29th from 5-7pm. Food, drink and possibly the best attended networking event in all of Greater Manchester – and it’s free! Come and see for yourself, and don't forget to bring a buddy. In the spirit of mixing it up, please note the new venue change now at Hot House.
AI for business event - save the date!
Interested in how AI could shape your business in 2025 and beyond? FSB GM’s team is putting on a virtual event on Thursday, 23 Jan where we’ll be exploring how AI can be harnessed to help businesses grow and save money. It includes a live demo of two brand new AI apps and we’ll take a look at a new, free online platform funded by Salford University to help businesses enter the brave new world of AI. Move beyond Chat GPT, and save the date in your diary for this 1hr 15 minute lunchtime session between 12-1.15pm.
In other news
New digital platform
A new digital platform whose aim is to help champion local businesses across Greater Manchester will launch later this month, with a number of local councils also onboard and in talks with the team behind the venture. Circle of Trust begin the rollout of their bespoke community platforms exclusively in GM, helping plug local communities in to the local businesses serving them. The online platform will let businesses upload jobs, showcase special offers, and promote goods and services. When fully rolled out every high street in GM will have a page of their own to help push the ‘shop local’ message. It will also feed into the Circle of Trust app which lets happy customers to easily recommend businesses where they have received excellent service, a quality product, or just a job done well to other people they know. Circle of Trust’s Tracy Johnson, said: “This is super-exciting for GM and will help small businesses from the trades, through to shops and hospitality venues on our struggling high streets maximise their sales and marketing. These are businesses who really benefit from a hyper-local initiative like this combined with powerful personal recommendations. Our platform also brings everything a neighbourhood has to offer in one place.”
AI Bootcamp - 1 May - St Helens
FSB’s NW team will put on a special, one-off event delving in to the world of AI for businesses like just yours! Taking place at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens, we’ll be shining a spotlight on the latest developments in this new, groundbreaking tech with a raft of industry experts on hand for a full day of learning and networking where you can discover and learn much, much more about AI and what it can do to transform the way you’re working today. We’ll be exploring the here and now of AI tech, as well as looking into the future to see what’s coming next in this rapidly evolving tech-juggernaut. Our five handpicked speakers will also take a look at how businesses across the globe are turning to this new tech to save time, increase productivity, and learn new ways of working in areas such as social media marketing. We’ll also be putting on a mini-AI trade show so if you’re a business that would like to tap in to an AI interested audience, stands are £70 for members and £100 for non-members. Interested?
Still in the news
Managing Change – fully funded workshop worth £599
Could you manage change within your organisation better? GM based businesses can access a full day of learning around the themes of ‘Managing Change’ on Tuesday, 21 Jan (9am-3.30pm) in the city centre. This workshop is designed to equip business owners and leaders with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to manage and implement change effectively, build resilience, and promote innovation and growth within their company.
Key topics covered in the workshop include:
- Understanding business change
- Psychological aspects of change
- How to plan for change
- Overcoming resistance to change
- Building a change-ready culture
- Developing clear action steps for success
Non-funded this costs £599. To apply for a funded place email Andrew at Know & Do.
Business Compliance Support – get the help you need
BCS represents the 10 local authority public protection teams across Greater Manchester. The team of 10 are committed to making compliance and regulation easier for businesses across GM. The service is funded by the Regulators Pioneer Fund, under the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT). The team are here to support new and existing businesses, aiming to help take the stress out of compliance and support businesses in ‘getting it right the first time’ – and much of it’s free.
Learn more about the service here>
More news and activity near you
- Lancashire and Cumbria
- Merseyside and Cheshire
- More from FSB North West
Get in touch
Your FSB Development Manager for Greater Manchester is Robert Downes. If you'd like more information about the topics above, or if you have news about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch.
- email us: [email protected]
- follow us on X: @FSBManchester
- follow us on Facebook: @Greater.Manchester
- follow Rob on LinkedIn: @robertdownesfsbmanchester